Popular Kenyan Lawyer’s Plea With IEBC On Election Goes Viral

As Kenyans prepare to head to polls on August 8th, all eyes on the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission which is charged with the mandate of refereeing the political contest. There has been a heated debate because of the manner in which IEBC awarded the tender to supply ballot papers to the Dubai based Al Ghurair. Opposition leader Raila Odinga has even gone to court seeking the deal to be cancelled.

While all this is happening, and granted the historical perspective where elections are perceived to be rigged, one voice of reason has stood out. And it is from flamboyant lawyer Donald Kipkorir who has penned an open letter to the IEBC chairman, pleading with him to make sure that the elections are free and fair, no matter what.

We haven’t met in over 15 years since we did that Mercedes case in Mombasa that you had bought from my client, DT Dobie. Now, the Nations-State of Kenya has placed on you the onerous but patriotic duty of being the Chairman of IEBC. Alongside NSSF, EACC and CBK, IEBC leadership is prestigious but the most thankless and dangerous. The leaders of these institutions never complete their terms in office. Such offices are like the sex lives of Spider and Mantis males who enjoy the split seconds copulation knowing the female will kill them after.

Still, some of the spider and mantis male have learnt how to survive the post-sex cannibalism. You must learn how to survive post-election cannibalism. For sure, it will come.

What you need to do is simple: respect the Constitution and the applicable electoral laws. Don’t bend the law for any political party. Don’t go to bed with any party. Like a true lawyer, never sleep with your clients, viz. political parties. Don’t let IEBC be seen like a branch of Jubilee or NASA. Apply the law equally. Don’t allow the Government of the day to use you. Fiat justitia ruat cælum (Let justice be done though the heavens fall).

And remember that the unity of Kenya and post-election peace is more important than your office or multi-billion contracts. You should never sacrifice Kenya for money or power or sex.

Above all: always remember power, no matter how powerful is transient. It ends. It comes to an end. Many powerful men have been seduced by power to their peril. Thomas Cromwell thought he was God just because King Henry VII allowed him to have a say in choosing his three wives , and also in breaking England from Rome. On July 28, 1540, Cromwell was hanged on Tower Hill.

www. awmagazine.org is a platform targeting African Diaspora in USA and beyond. Our aim is to deliver informative, educative, and entertaining articles normally underplayed or altogether neglected by mainstream media. We explore the potential to scale-up the presence and contribution of this highly dynamic African Community living in the West by highlighting the journeys, challenges and victories that they experience as they navigate new horizons in search of greener pastures.
Write to us: info@awmagazine.org